The start of 2017 is fast approaching and what better way to begin the year with a bang than by watching the fireworks over the Hong Kong Harbour or the London Eye from the sundeck of your own luxury yacht? To inspire your own selection, here are eight impressive luxury yachts currently available for charter through the Christmas and New Year period, with some special features and centrepieces that you won’t soon forget.

Whichever yacht you want for charter, be sure to book in advance: availability disappears quickly as the holiday season nears.

LAMIMA – The largest wooden sailing yacht in the world

Enjoy the services of a highly skilled crew aboard sailing yacht LAMIMA

Begin 2017 with a different experience and sail Thailand and Indonesia aboard sailing yacht LAMIMA. Built in 2014, she is the largest wooden sailing yacht in the world at 65m/194ft. Her traditional Indonesian appearance contains the conveniences of air conditioning and wi-fi while removing the majority of modern-day distractions so you can relax and enjoy the uninhabited islands and glassy blue lagoons that set the backdrop for your relaxing massage.

LAMIMA

Sailing ketch LAMIMA - Main

Unwind in the spacious Main saloon with a cocktail from the wet bar, or take in the fresh air from the seating on the main deck while learning about the local history and culture from your guide. When you want to get up close to the pristine beaches and sea life, the water toy chest has jet skis, paddleboards, Indonesian canoes and snorkelling and scuba diving equipment. Guests can even earn their PADI diving card while on the trip.

The crew of luxury sailing yacht LAMIMA exemplify how the staff are as much a part of the luxury charter experience as the yacht itself: from expert chefs to yoga teachers, onboard tour guides, masseuses and dive instructors, the skills available are unrivalled in a crew of 19, ensuring that every guest has a fantastic experience.

Accommodation: 14 guests: 5 double cabins, 2 twin cabins

Crew: 19

Price per week: €160,000 plus expenses

New Year charter grounds: Southeast Asia – Thailand and Indonesia

TIARA – Bedouin heaven and Thai splendour

Alfresco dining aboard the magical luxury sailing yacht TIARA – the largest sailing yacht from Dubois to date

The second luxury sailing yacht on our list, 54m/178ft custom built TIARA is a PADI Certified Training Centre Yacht, and what better place to learn to dive than surrounded by tropical fish in Thailand?

S/Y TIARA

Built by New Zealand based Alloy Yachts in 2004 and refitted in 2013, the exterior features design work from the renowned Dubois Naval Architects.  Combined with the internal styling of John Munford, superyacht TIARA has exceptional flow between its indoor and outdoor spaces in authentic Art Deco style.

The main aft deck has plenty of room to host an open-air special occasion, or as a helipad for ferrying guests to and from the mainland. As the evening quietens down, the bedouin tent can be set up as comfortable and atmospheric cinema seating, or for a memorable New Year’s honeymoon under the stars.

Vavona burl, Honduras and flame mahogany create a rich interior that is welcoming while at the same time an excellent environment for formal occasions and corporate yacht charters. Two working fireplaces are located in the main saloon and the Master suite and Art Deco furnishings, statuettes and detailing can be found throughout the rooms.

Custom sailing yacht TIARA has plenty of water toys on offer and with her experienced PADI diving instructor and kite-surfing instructor aboard, there is no better luxury yacht to couple a memorable new year location with lifelong new skills.

Accommodation: 10 guests: 1 Master suite, 2 double cabins, 2 twin cabins and 2 Pullman beds.

Crew: 10

Price per week: €180,000 plus expenses

New Year charter grounds: Southeast Asia

LADY BRITT – Effortless style in silver and gold

Rest and rejuvenation aboard superyacht Lady Britt

Built by Feadship in 2011, 63m/207ft superyacht LADY BRITT has all the elegance and innovative design elements that took her to the finals in the 2012 World Superyacht Awards and Showboats Design Awards.

M/Y LADY BRITT

Designed for entertainment, her deck can be converted into a stage and used as an outdoor cinema.

Light, airy and full of beautifully crafted furnishings designed for comfort and relaxation, luxury yacht LADY BRITT is an ideal choice for a restful retreat from the New Year’s crowds. Featuring a wellness room with massage facilities and a sauna, she has everything to compliment a day of adventure on the ocean, exploring with her Laser Pico sail boats, kayaks, windsurfers or scuba diving equipment.

Accommodation: 12 guests: 1 Master suite, 4 double cabins, 2 twin cabins

Crew: 16

Price per week: €445,000 plus expenses

New Year charter grounds: The Bahamas and the Caribbean

W – What more could you need?

Motor yacht W – Formal dining area ready to see in the New Year

Built by Westport in 2014, 40m/140ft motor yacht W is a glimmering white attention-getter with all the facilities of a luxury holiday and the comforts of home life. Her rich mahogany interior features elegant, black and white furnishings with a splash of colour to draw the eye. Relaxing and airy with plenty of bright lighting to carry your special occasion long into the night both indoors and outside, luxury yacht W is a perfect choice for a New Year’s charter in the Caribbean.

Make use of the deck space all day long with plenty of sunning space at the front of the pilothouse deck. Relax at the bar on the main deck and watch the latest sports live on the outdoor TV before enjoying smoky taste of barbequed meat and fish cooked by your expert on board chef.

PIPE DREAM

Westport Motor yacht W - Main

Both the main deck and the flybridge have plenty of seating for alfresco dining, with the latter having the advantage of sunbeds and a sizeable Jacuzzi for a truly laid-back day in the sun.

It’s the toy chest where superyacht W truly shines: She has no end of entertainment on board for group outings, including:

• 2 x 3-seater jet skis
• 2 x Seabobs
• 4 x paddleboards (stand-up)
• 2 x 2 person kayaks
• Waterskis
• Beach games
• Fishing equipment
• Scuba diving (only with Rendezvous Diving)

For land, there are even 3 mountain bikes to help adventurers see the most of the lush Caribbean islands visited.

Accommodation: 10 guests: 1 Master suite, 2 VIP staterooms, 2 twin cabins

Crew: 7

Price per week: €114,000 plus expenses

New Year charter grounds: Bahamas and Caribbean

MARIE – A St. Barths Bucket winner

The dining area and outdoor living space aboard regatta-winning S/Y MARIE

Built in 2010 by Vitters, 55m/180ft luxury sailing yacht MARIE already has a prestigious history as a winner of the St Barth’s Bucket and a finalist at the World Superyacht Awards 2011 and the Showboats Design Awards 2011 for her exterior and interior design respectively.

Whether you’re out on the ocean or pulling into harbour, you’re sure to be noticed with her large sails and striking crimson and black hull from Hoek, who are also responsible for her exterior and interior design. The cockpit dining features sumptuous red seating complimented by solid wooden surrounds. The area is excellent for intimate dining between 8 guests from morning to evening and its shaded lounging area will allow guests to spend as much of the charter outdoors as possible.

Sailing Ketch Marie – Image credit Tom Nitsch Image

Inside, guests can pass by the wet bar and descend the staircase to reach the Main saloon, where a grand piano awaits for nightly entertainment. Portholes and skylights allow for natural lighting whichever room guests choose to occupy, from the Master suite complete with library and seating area to the formal dining area.

There is plenty of deck space for lounging in the sun, or make use of the water toy chest which contains a wakeboard, a jet-ski, an inflatable trampoline, snorkelling equipment, fishing equipment and more.

Not only does sailing yacht MARIE have an excellent variety of water toys, she also has 2 scooters to let guests explore the islands independent of any local transport. Begin the New Year aboard this competitive yacht and when you return home, you and your guests will have an enviable vacation story to tell.

Accommodation: 8 guests: 1 Master suite, 1 VIP stateroom, 2 twin cabins

Crew: 8

Price per week: €189,000

New Year charter grounds: Bahamas and Caribbean

ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM – From one underwater paradise to the next

You won’t miss the winter chill aboard luxury yacht ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM

Enjoy the classic cruising experience on a beautifully designed luxury yacht with 49m/161ft motor yacht ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM. Built by Trinity Yachts in 2005 and refitted in 2013, this splendid yacht has a laid back atmosphere and impressive detailing that adds to the ambience of every onboard area, from the dining area to the hallways and the guest rooms.

In the main saloon, rest and relax in gorgeous wood-panelled surroundings with a drink from the bar and turn your Christmas meal into a night to remember at the grand dining table, able to seat all 10 guests in comfort with plenty of elbow room.

Dine alfresco and watch the glitter of lights upon foreign shores as you see in the New Year and celebrate from the flybridge with a fully-stocked wet bar and watch the fireworks over St Martin from the Jacuzzi. Begin the 1st of January as you mean to go on and take advantage of the large beach club and swim platform, dividing your day into relaxing in the shade and swimming amongst the corals and undulating sands which are home to thousands of unique species of fish as well as sea turtles, docile nurse sharks and dolphins.

Looking to keep fit or learn a new sport as a New Year’s resolution? Tackle it immediately with the impressive toy chest aboard ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM. As an approved RYA WATER Sports Centre, every guest can learn how to use the water toys on their vacation, gain certification and learn a new skill for the start of 2017.

Accommodation: 10 guests: 1 Master suite, 1 VIP staterooms, 1 double cabin, 1 twin cabin

Crew: 10

Price per week: €164,000 plus expenses

New Year charter grounds: Bahamas, Caribbean and Florida

AQuiJo – The world’s largest sailing ketch

The impressive architecture of sailing yacht AQUIJO makes the ideal location to see in New Year’s Day

Wherever you sail the beautiful 86m/282ft custom sailing yacht AQUIJO, you’re bound to be noticed. Following the modern maxim of bright, clean and uncluttered surroundings, sailing yacht AQUIJO is exquisite in its simplicity. Her focus is placed on breath-taking architecture and the practical use of her surroundings to create an atmosphere of intimacy and adventure befitting a luxury sailing yacht heading to the Caribbean.

A sundeck on the flybridge takes full advantage of the summery Caribbean weather while showcasing the charter ground’s beauty to its full extent.

The formal alfresco dining seats up to 20 guests for open air nighttime entertainment.

There is plenty of room in the beach club’s indoor Jacuzzi, lit from above by the skylight in the floor of the main deck, or guests may prefer the sauna and steam rooms to chat while relaxing.

Incomplete without a selection of water toys, luxury sailing ketch AQUIJO has plenty for entertainment in the waves, from sunrise to sunset:

• 2 x Kayaks
• 2 x Paddleboards
• 2 x RS Aero Sail Boats
• 8 x Scuba Diving Equipment
• Snorkelling Equipment
• Wake Boards
• Towable Toys
• Water-Skis

Delivered only this year, sailing enthusiasts shouldn’t miss this opportunity to charter this brand new and exceptional craft from Oceanco and Vitters, who have paid attention to every minor detail when it comes to living space arrangement, amenities and entertainment.

Accommodation: 12 guests: 1 Master suite, 3 VIP staterooms, 1 double cabin, 1 twin cabin and 1 convertible

Crew: 17

Price per week: €400,000 plus expenses

New Year charter grounds: Caribbean

JOY – The brand new flagship from renowned yacht builders Feadship

Delicate detail in glass and metalwork can be found throughout superyacht JOY

Visit the warmth of the Seychelles in luxury and style whilst the northern hemisphere struggles for daylight hours. Brand new to the charter market as of September 2016, Feadship’s 70m/230ft flagship JOY is ready to charter to Indian Ocean destinations this coming winter.

Featuring exterior design work and engineering by Bannenberg & Rowell, superyacht JOY consists of wide decks, a spacious beach club and plenty of uninterrupted views from the upper deck. Impressive as both a corporate event charter, a venue for a special occasion or a holiday getaway, the impressive stylistic features both outside and in will leave a lasting impression.

Superyacht JOY

The interior is tastefully decorated by Studio Indigo to modern standards, using a neutral colour palette, textures and patterning to great effect. These stylistic elements are epitomised in the spiral staircase and lift that connect the floors, from the airy and light suites up to the gym and the sky deck.

The main saloon provides an inviting area to socialise: every seating area is positioned for maximum natural light throughout the day from the floor to ceiling glass panes.

A range of water toys can be found in motor yacht JOY’s toy chest, including water skis, jet skis, wakeboards, towable toys and equipment for fishing, snorkelling and scuba diving.

Accommodation: 12 guests: 1 Master suite, 1 VIP stateroom, 5 double cabins, 1 twin cabin

Crew: 17

Price per week: €600,000

New Year charter grounds: Indian Ocean

To find out more information and available dates before the festive season, contact CharterWorld now.